Group Size: 8 – 10 participants

km – kilometer & am = altitude meter

Day 1              Arrival in Cape Town and sightseeing tour

Your tour guide will welcome you at Cape Town Airport. Transfer to the guesthouse 4* in a quiet location at the foot of Table Mountain. Depending on arrival time a sightseeing tour of the city centre follows: The castle, Parliament Gardens, Greenmarket Square, Bo-Kaap. Dinner is at the Africa Cafe Specialty Restaurant. (D)

Rosedene Guest House 4*

Distance by bus 20 km, duration 0.5 h

Day 2              Hike on Devil‘s Peak

This hike is a secret and is off the tourist paths. You start at the guesthouse and walk through the district Vredehoek (Peace Corner) into Table Mountain National Park. Many endemic plants can be found here. Pelargonium, Outeniqua pincushion, bugle lily and many more. You have wonderful views as you hike up and along the 1000 m high ridge of Devil‘s Peak. From here you have an unusual view of Table Mountain. Descent ensues via Newlands Saddle and back to town. (Driving time: 0.5 hrs; Walking time: 6 hrs.; Hg: 2900 ft.) (B,L)

Rosedene Guest House 4*

Hike approximately 6 h (1000 am)

Distance by bus 10 km, duration 0.5 h

Day 3              Hike on the Cape of Good Hope

Drive to Simons Town on the Cape Peninsula. Visit a penguin colony. Afterwards you enter Table Mountain National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which stretches from the waterfront of Cape Town all the way to the Cape of Good Hope. Hike to Thomas T. Tucker Ship Wreck on the wild Atlantic Coast, as well as through the varying coast of fynbos to Sirkelsvlei (3 h).You have a picnic at the coast. Visit the Cape of Good Hope. Along the way you might spot eland, bontebok, baboons and ostrich followed by a 1-hour hike to Cape Point above the rocky coastline. Drive to Stellenbosch. You overnight in a comfortable guest house in Stellenbosch. (B,L)

Eendracht Hotel 4*

Hike approximately 4 h (200 am)

Distance by bus 140 km, duration 3 h

Day 4              Hike in Jonkershoek Nature Reserve

You start in Jonkershoek Nature Reserve onto the 1100 m plateau of the Hottentot-Holland Mountains. Along the horse-shoe shaped route you hike through the wonderful fynbos, protea and erica. The view to the Cape of Good Hope, 100 km away, is impressive. After the hike transfer to Montagu. You stay 2 nights in a hotel 4* in town. (B,L)

Montagu Country Hotel 4*

Hike approximately 6-8 h (1300 am)

Distance by bus 150 km, duration 2 h

Day 5              Hike on the Bloupunt

You start hiking from your overnight stay through a shady gorge towards the 1210 m high Bloupunt Peak. This is the home of baboons, mountain leopards, rock hyrax and puff adders. The view of Ashton, Robertson and Montagu, as well as the vineyard hills of the Breede Valley, are a reward after the steady climb. After returning to the guest house 4* you can spend the rest of the day in the thermal springs of Montagu. (B,L)

Montagu Country Hotel 4*

Hike approximately 5 h (1000 am)

Distance by bus 0 km, duration 0 h

Day 6              Transfer and Swimming

During the 4-hour transfer to the charming village of Nature‘s Valley, located in an indigenous forest, you stop to swim in Victoria Bay and the inviting Knysna Waterfront in the Knysna Waterfront Lagoon. You stay in a lodge 3* in Nature‘s Valley. (Driving time: 4 hrs.) (B,D)

Tranquility Lodge 3*

Distance by bus 400 km, duration 4 h

Day 7              Tsitsikamma National Park and start of the Otter Trail

The morning is at own disposal. Alongside diverse hiking possibilities, the 5 km sand beach is very inviting for a swim or walk. After lunch transfer to Tsitsikamma National Park. A short trip to the suspension bridge at the mouth of Storm‘s River. Afterwards you start the most beautiful multi-day hike in South Africa. For 5 days you hike on secluded paths, sometimes on the water’s edge, sometimes over the rocky coastline, towards Nature‘s Valley. At the varying overnight stops there are 2 simple log cabins, each with 3 bunk beds and a washable mattress. There is also a flush toilet and cold water shower. Each location is carefully selected. There is always the opportunity to swim in the river mouth or the sea. (B,L,D)

Otter Trail

Hike approximately 2 h (200 am)

Distance by bus 40 km, duration 0.75 h

Day 8-10         Hiking on the Otter Trail

The trail takes you through the indigenous, coastal forest and along sandy and rocky beaches. In the National Park the baboons and bushbuck feel at home on land, the southern right or bowhead whales, seals and bottlenose dolphins in the sea, and in the air the seagulls and the endangered black oystercatcher. A 5 km stretch of sea is protected from fishing, which has helped create a special variety of species here. On day 10, depending on the tide, you walk or swim across the Bloukrans River mouth. A unique adventure! (B,L,D)

Otter Trail

Hike daily approximately 4-6 h (200-600 am)

Distance by bus 0 km, duration 0 h

Day 11            Back in Nature‘s Valley

A last climb up from the coast takes you to a panoramic route back to Nature‘s Valley (3 h). After 5 days in nature one can enjoy a cold beer or wine. You stay in nearby Plettenberg Bay in a beautiful guesthouse 4* just a 5 minute walk from the endless beach (Driving time: 30 mins.; Walking time: 3 hrs.; Hg: 600 ft.) (B,L)

Cornerway House 4*

Hike approximately 3 h (200 am)

Distance by bus 35 km, duration 0.75 h

Day 12            Rest day

The day is for own leisure. If you don‘t just want to relax at the beach there is plenty to do. The tour guide will help with the organisation:

• Visit the Monkey Primate Protection Area and/or the World of Birds – the impressive bird protection area with the world’s largest netted aviary. The feeding stations are an excellent place to watch the birds, especially the Knysna Loerie a native parrot species.
• Whale and dolphin tour in a boat or canoe in the bay. Good sightings in July to November.
• Hike on Robberg Island. Amazing views of the Tsitskamma Mountains. For those who want to hike to the peak they can watch Cape fur seals hunting and visit a breeding colony of seagulls. The endangered black oystercatcher is also here. Hike approximately 1-4 h (B)

Cornerway House 4*

Distance by bus 0 km, duration 0 h

Day 13                        Safari in Addo Elephant National Park

You head for Addo Elephant National Park, the second largest national park in the country with seven different vegetation zones, providing a wealth of flora and fauna. With the tour vehicle you enter in the south and make your way across the whole park, spotting elephants, kudu, buffalo, lion, zebra, hartebeest, wart hog and tortoise. You stay in a nice lodge 4* close to the park. (B)

Dungbeetle Lodge 4*

Distance by bus 300 km, duration 3.5 h

Day 14                        Safari and return journey

After packing and a morning safari in an open land rover transfer to Port Elizabeth Airport. (B)

Distance by bus 90 km, duration 1 h

Accommodation subject to availability

For the days when you will be carrying a 8-10kg rucksack on the Otter Trail, a good level of fitness and a steady footing is necessary. During the given dates of travel the climate in the hiking areas is comfortably warm during the day with temperatures of up to 28°C, nights can be cooler near the coast with temperatures dropping to around 15°C.